United came back from a lengthy lay off with a determined win in a handicap hurdle at Haydock before Christmas and now looks to follow up in the 1.00 at Sandown tomorrow. She has recorded most of her wins on soft or heavy ground which she is unlikely to encounter tomorrow but she won on good ground at Haydock and also won on a sound surface on the flat in Germany. Provided the bounce factor doesn’t affect her United should go well. Accordello was 5th behind United at Haydock beaten over 23 lengths. She is better off at the weights tomorrow but not enough to make up the difference on a literal interpretation of the form. Her trainer Keith Reveley had a nice winner with Rambling Minster the other day and Acordello should run well at a decent price. United looks the likely winner though.
Another trainer in good form is Venetia Williams. She saddles Stow in the 1.35. Formerly a fair handicapper on the flat for Hughie Morrison he won on his hurdles bow at Hereford and should not be too far away tomorrow.
There are two runners from my list to follow in the Tolworth Hurdle at 2.40, Mahonia and Somersby. Although Mahonia was beaten at Cheltenham on his last start it was Ruby Walshs’ firs t ride back after having his spleen removed and that may have been a factor. I fancy Mahonia to go well on a track that should suit and he is my selection. Henrietta Knight has her horses in better form now after a lean spell and her Somersby could be the main threat to Mahonia although he will not really be seen to best effect until tackling fences.
In the 3.50 Chivalry and Howle Hill could run well at big prices but for my selection I am going with the relatively unexposed Prince Taime.
At Wincanton in the 1.20 Sangfroid and Buffalo Bob represent my list to follow. Neither appeals as a betting proposition. Sangfroid looks to me as though he needs further, while Buffalo Bob comes into the race on the back of a disappointing run and is another that looks in need of a longer trip.
Maasini’s Maguire gave the impression that he didn’t quite get the trip when beaten by Breedsbreeze over Christmas. He goes over a shorter distance in the 1.55 and looks the one to be on.
My short list for the 2.55 consists of Fairoak Lad, Lead On and Money Order. The latter has only been beaten once in 5 starts and although he has been off the track for a long while he has gone well fresh in the past. He looks interesting at around 10/1 with the main concern being the form of the stable. It will be interesting to see if either of the Hobbs runners attracts support in the betting. I don’t think that the fact that Richard Jonson partners Fairoak Lad necessarily means that Lead On is the stable’s second string. Using a good conditional jockey would seem to make sense on the top weight Lead On.
The Old Pretender has plenty of ability and I would normally be keen on his chances in the 4.00. However the stable have endured a quiet time of late that that would put me off a bit. Wind Instrument did win for the yard the other day though so perhaps they are about to come into some form. The Old Pretender is likely to be best on soft ground.
Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Margaret Barrett.
Bye for now.
ahorse 